Control of torpedo antenna



March l2, 1946. J. H. HAMMOND, JR'

CONTROL OF TORPEDO ANTENNA Filed Dec l0, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VENTOR. I M

7h. ATTORNEYS.

March l2, 1946. J. H. HAMMOND, JR

CONTROL'OF TORPEDO ANTENNA Filed Dec. l0, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TTORNE YS.

Patented Mar. l2, 1946 CONTROL OF TORPEDO ANTENNA `lohn Hays Hammond, Jr., Gloucester, Mass., as- Y. signor to the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of Navy Application December 10, 1928, Serial No. 325,013

Claims.

The invention relates in general to torpedoes,

and more particularly, to torpedoes which are controlled from a distance after they are fired.

According to the present invention the torpedo is provided with devices for rendering the torpedo unresponsive at certain predetermined intervals to the controlling influences imparted to it.

According to the invention the torpedo maybe provided with a radio antenna and the controlling influences may be in the form of radiant energy sent out from a radio transmitter by the operator controlling the torpedo. At predetermined intervals controlled either by the lapsed time or the distance travelled since firing the torpedo, the antenna may be rendered inoperative or incapable of picking up the controlling influences. The antenna may be carried outside the torpedo body when receiving controlling energy and may be bodily pulled into the torpedo body when the antenna must be inoperative. If desired the antenna may remain outside the torpedo body and the antenna circuit may be broken at predetermined intervals when it is desired to render the torpedo unresponsive to external controlling inuences.

This construction is Vimportant to prevent unauthorized control of the torpedo by the enemy. Secret codes are usually used for controlling torpedoes and in case the enemy obtains knowledge of the secret code, the present invention will make it very difficult for the enemy to control the torpedo against the will of the operator who knows the time intervals when the torpedo can be controlled.

The invention also consists in certain new and original features of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the novel features which are believed to be characteristic of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims appended hereto, the invention itself, as to its objects and advantages, the mode of its operation and the `manner of its organization may be better understood by referring to the followingr description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, in which Fig. 1 is a sectional View of a part of the torpedo showing the manner of arranging the several mechanisms included in the torpedo;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged diagrammatic detail View illustrating the mechanism for letting out and pulling in the antenna;

Fig. 3 is a detail of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4 `is a further detail illustrating how the events may be controlled by the distance gear or the timing device.

In the following description and in the claims parts will be identified by specific names for convenience, but they are intended to be as generic in their application to similar parts as the art will permit.

Like reference characters denote like parts in the several figures of the drawings.

In the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification, a practical commercial embodiment of the invention is shown, but as such illustration is primarily for purposes of disclosure, it will be understood that the structure may be modified in various respects without departure from the broad spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter defined and claimed.

Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly, to Fig. l, the torpedo has disposed in its after part driving means such as an air turbine for driving the propellers I I. Suitable concentric shafts I and Il connect the turbine with the propellers I I in a manner well known in the art. On outer shaft IIlI is disposed a gear i612 for driving the distance gear and the gyroscope. A radio receiver and timing device are also included in the torpedo body. The details of these elements are disclosed in prior application Serial Number 252,- 716 led February 8, 1928, now Patent 1,806,346 granted May 19, 1931, entitled Paravane torpedo.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2, the stern of the torpedo is provided with a guide tube I6 through which the antenna I4 slides. The skin of the torpedo has a water sealing bushing Il to allow antenna Ill to be pulled in and out of the torpedo body. A bob I5 is provided for pulling the antenna out by the force of the water as will be described more in detail hereinafter.

A shaft I9 is mounted between bearings 2l, this shaft supporting a reel I8 having the antenna I4 wound thereon. The end of the antenna is connected to a collector ring Sl in a manner well known, and a brush or contact 68 is provided for leading the antenna current from the reel to the radio receiver or other proper apparatus through conductor Sii. A clutch element v2li is feather keyed to the shaft It and cooperates with another clutch element 23. Clutch element 23 is -secured to Worm wheel 22, both being freely rotatable on the shaft I. A worm 3l (Fig. 3) meshes worm wheel 22 and is driven by a gear 32 meshing gear 33 on the outer propeller shaft IUI.

For operating the clutch, a lever 25 is provided pvoted to a bracket IUS, the clutch being normally held disengaged by spring 30. The clutch the back contact 46 or 48 against which it happens to be positioned.

To limit the movement of the drum l0, a brake shoe 34 is provided being mounted on a bra-ke arm 35 which is pivoted to a bracket |05 andoperated by an air cylinder |06. The shoe 34 is normally held engaged against the drum by spring31. The.

cylinder |06 is controlled by air valve 38, which in turn is controlled by solenoid 39. Air is Supplied to the two valves 21 and 38 by pipe 40 leading from a reservoir of compressed air (not shown) which may be the one used for driving the turbine.

For controlling the operation of the solenoids 28 and 39 a relay 56 is provided, this relay in turn being controlled by the latch 5| pivoted to the torpedo body and operable, when the torpedo 'is fired, to close the contacts 5|a and 5|b. A battery 49 is provided in the circuit of contact 41 and a second battery |01 is provided in the circuit of relay 50. The solenoids 20 and 39 are also under control of contacts 46, 41, 48.

' Referring now to Fig. 4, the circuit of the relay 50 is further controlled by the 'apparatus shown in this ligure. The distance gear drives a cam 53 which operates a contact 55 to engage a contact 54 at predetermined intervals. Similarly, the timing device drives a cam 58 to operate the contact 62 which engages the contact 6| at predetermined intervals.

In circuit with these contacts 6|, 62 and 54, 55 is a switch made up of a central contact 64 and outer contacts 63 and 65 normally engaging the central contact 64 and normally short circuiting contactsv 6|, 62 and 54, 55. A lever 66 is provided to selectively engage contacts 63 and 65 to place either the distance gear or the timing device in the control of the antenna. A latch51 is provided for setting the timing device in operation when the torpedo is red.

If it is desired to have distance gear control the letting out and pulling in'of antenna, the lever 66 is turned by means of a key wrench in a clockwise direction so as to move contact 63 away from 64, When the torpedo is fired, the latch 5| is tripped, Vallowing the contact-s 5ta and 5| b to come together. The distance gear starts turning the cam 53 at a slow speed. When the cam 53 causes the contact 55 to engage 54, the relay 50 is energized, thus closing the circuit through winding |59 of the solenoid 39. This opens valve 38, moves piston 36 outwardly and releases brake shoe 34 from reel |8. The pull of the water on the bob i5 then causes the antenna |4 to be unwound. As the drum I8 turns, the worm 42 causes the gear 43 to rotate slowly in a clockwise direction. Just before the antenna 4 is entirely Vunwound, the pin 45 engages the linger 41 causing it to move away from the finger 46, Ythus breaking the circuit through the winding |09 of the solenoid 39. This allo-ws valve 38 to move under action of spring 4| thus exhausting air under piston 36. The arm 35 is then rotated in a counter-clockwise direction by the spring 31 thus applying the brake shoe 34 to the reel 8 which stops the letting out of the antenna 4.

After the torpedo has moved through a predetermined distance depending on the shape of the face of the cam 53, .the Contact linger 55 will move away from 54, thus deenergizing the relay 50 the armature of which will be moved to the left, thus closing the circuit through the solenoid 28 and the winding |66 of the solenoid 39. This will release the brake shoe 34, as already explained, and move the valve 21' adding air and thus moving the piston 26 outwardly and engag- .ing the clutch member 24 with the clutch member 23. The member 23 is constantly rotated in a clockwise direction by the gears 33, 52 and the worm 3| and Vwheel 22 from the propeller shaft of the torpedo. The reelV l5 will then be rotated in a clockwise direction thus winding up the antenna.

The worm wheel 43 will now be rotated slowly in a counter-clockwise direction until the antenna isall pulled in, at which time the pin 45 will engage the contact linger 41 moving it out of engagement with Vthe linger 46 thus breaking the circuit through the solenoid-s 28 and 35. The

former will allow the valve 21 to close under the.

action of the spring 23 and the clutchV 23,724 will be opened by the spring 30. At the same time the brake shoe 34 will engage the reel |8 preventing the antenna from being pulled out.

The antenna will remain inside until the torpedo has moved another predetermined distance at which time the cam 53 will close the circuit of the relay 56 and the above cycle of operation will be repeated.

If it is desired to control the letting in and out of the antenna by the timing device, the lever 66 is' rotated in a counter-clockwise direction causing the nger 65 to be moved out ofV engagement with 64. When the torpedo is fired, the latches 5| and 51 are moved in a counter-clockwise direction, the latter starting the timing device 56 which slowly rotates the cam 50. This cam alternately closes and opens the circuits through the contact fingers 6i, 62'which control the relay 50. This causes the antenna to belet out and pulled in at predetermined times after the torpedo has been red in a manner similar to that already described.

The distance gear and timing device may also be used to controlthe circuit of the antenna directly without using Ythe mechanism shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this case the antenna |4 is allowed to trail behind the torpedo all the time and is connected to the terminal A of Fig. 4 and the terminal B of this figure is connected to the radio receiver. If it is desired to have the distance gear control the circuit of the'antenna, the lever 66 is moved in a clockwise direction and if the timing device is Vto control, the lever 66 is moved in a counter-clockwisedirection.VV

Thus a torpedo is providedinwhich theautenna is rendered inoperative atY predetermined intervals controlledeither by thetiming device or by the distance gear. The selection of this control is made before the torpedo'is fired and the lever 66 set accordingly. The operator then knows the exact times when the antenna is operative and he can transmit his controlling impulses at that time to control theY operation of the torpedo in the desired manner. The mechanism disclosed is capable of` drawing 'the antenna wholly within the torpedo body to absolutely prevent undesired outside inluences. 5 SomeV of the devices which may be controlled by` the antenna. are the steering anddiving of the torpedo itself, the control of the depth of the torpedo, the engine speed, production of smoke and many other devices shown ln prior applications and patents useful for maneuvering purposes.

In the drawings the cams 53 and 58 have been shown as having raised portions and depressed portions of varying widths. Obviously the shapes of either or both of these cams may be changed from that shown to provide any other sequence thatmay be found to meet the exigencies of the particular situation to insure the utmost of secrecy.

While certain novel features of the invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claims, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A torpedo comprising a torpedo body, a radio antenna therein, and means for letting out said antenna and drawing it in at predetermined intervals.

2. A torpedo comprising a torpedo body, a reel therein, a radio antenna wound on said reel and passing out of said body, a water pulling element outside said body on the end of said antenna, and means operable by mechanism located in the torpedo body at predetermined intervals for allowing said reel to unwind and for winding up said antenna on said reel.

3. A torpedo comprising a torpedo shell, a reel within said shell, an antenna wound on said reel and passing through said shell, a water-pulling element outside said shell on the end of said antenna, a brake for said reel, a source of power to wind up said reel, first control devices operable at predetermined intervals, second control devices operable by said reel when unwound and when wound, said rst control devices operating to release said brake to cause said antenna to unwind, said second control devices operating to apply said brake when said reel is unwound, said first control devices operating to release said brake and to convert said source to said reel to wind up said antenna, said second contacts operating to apply said brake and to disconnect said source and reel when said antenna is wound up.

4. A torpedo comprising a torpedo shell, a reel within said shell, an antenna wound on said reel and passing through said shell, a water-pulling element outside said shell on the end of said antenna, a brake on said reel, a source of power to rotate said reel, first control contacts operable at predetermined intervals, reel controlled contacts operable by said reel when unwound and when wound, first control contacts operating to release said brake to cause said antenna to unwind, said reel-controlled contacts operating to apply said brake when said reel is unwound, said iirst control contacts operating to release said brake and to connect said source to said reel to wind said antenna, said reel-controlled con.. tacts operating to apply said brake and to disconnect said source and reel when said antenna is Wound.

5. A torpedo comprising a torpedo shell, a reel within said shell, an antenna wound on said reel and passing through said shell, a water-pulling element outside said shell on the end of said antenna, a brake on said reel, an air cylinder controlling said brake, a source of power to rotate said reel, a clutch between said source and reel, an air cylinder controlling said clutch, solenoids controlling said air cylinders, master control contacts operable at predetermined intervals, a master relay controlled by said master contacts, reelcontrolled contacts operable by said reel when unwound and when wound, said master relay being energized to operate said brake solenoid to release said brake to cause said antenna to un- Wind, said reel-controlled contacts operating to break the circuit of said brake solenoid to apply said brake when said reel is unwound, said master relay releasing to operate both said solenoids to release said brake and operate said clutch to wind said antenna, said reel-controlled contacts operating to break the circuit of both said solerelease said clutch noids to apply said brake and when said antenna is Wound.

JOI-IN HAYS HAMMOND, J a. 

